Without a doubt, the MCU had benefitted a lot in the last two years from the Disney-Plus streaming service. The Covid-19 pandemic threw the MCU into a mess with Phase 4 was supposed to be a new beginning following the Infinity Saga. While the question remains exactly where it’s all headed, it’s likely the MCU will branch out into more sci-fi and horror land.
It was originally planned to have James Gunn to oversee the more sci-fi and space-related movies until he was fired than rehired to finish out the third Guardian of the Galaxy and focus more on the DCEU properties such as the surprisingly good Peacemaker. It’s no secret that Mahershala Ali will be the vampire hunter Blade. And Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness had a more horror feel to it. Even the title seeemed to be an ode to the works of H.P. Lovecraft.
And speaking of Lovecraft whose creation of Cthulhu is seen in the design of Man-Thing, who is featured in Werewolf by Night, a TV special in time for the Halloween season. The plot of the special introduces the titular character who also goes by the sly name Jack Russell (Gael Garcia Bernal) who is one of five experience monster hunters summoned to Bloodstone Manor. Verussa Bloodstone (Harriet Sansom Harris) wants these hunters including her own daughter, Elsa (Laura Donnelly) to compete for the Bloodstone.
Man-Thing has been captured and placed in an enclosed maze outside the manor where the hunters must search for. However, Man-Thing, also known as Ted Sallis, is a friend of Jack’s and he’s trying to save his friend’s life while at the same time not wanting people to know he, himself, is also a monster.
The special directed by Michael Giacchino is shot in black and white and it invokes the old black and white monster movies from the Universal Pictures from the 1930 and 1940s. While the special is only 53 minutes with credits, it still looks like it should be a feature movie, but I don’t know how they would stretch a concept like this even into an hour and a half movie. But it does work as a nice special.
While at this time, nothing can really stop the MCU until the fans grow tired and they don’t seem to be stopping anytime soon. I think the problem is following the Avengers: Endgame movie, people were left wondering what could happen. I really don’t think they should bring back the Avengers, but it would be nice to see a more horror-based crossover. And since Deadpool is now part of the MCU, I would advise Disney to actually consider more R-rated MCU movies.
That being said, Werewolf by Night manages to be a little more violent than usual. But thanks to the black and white format, they can hide some of the violence and gore. I think after doing all these more family-friendly MCU movies, it’s a nice twist to take it down a darker path. Every movie or show is different.
What do you think? Please comment.
Zane Says 